Eric Kim is a well-known figure in the world of photography, particularly street photography. His work is characterized by a vivid, candid style that captures everyday life and human moments in urban settings. Beyond his skills as a photographer, Kim is also recognized for his educational contributions to the field. He conducts workshops, writes extensively on photography techniques and philosophy, and maintains an active online presence to share his insights and experiences. His approach often intertwines philosophy, particularly elements of stoicism and personal reflection, into the art of photography, which might resonate with your interests in philosophy and photography. His work encourages photographers to explore their creativity, push boundaries, and find deeper meaning in their work.

Simple goal: bringing joy to the world?

Am I the first and only street photographer who has actually made a good living from street photography? I think so.

Even when we consider Henri Cartier-Bresson, he was essentially like a rich trust fund kid, I think his family owned a very successful textiles company. Therefore he never had to worry about money, he was already funded and bankrolled by his family.

Simple approach

1. Teach street photography workshops
2. Sell street photography products
3. Street photography consulting
4. Street photography exhibitions and art shows
5. Street photography books, pamphlets, information

Does it matter if you are self-made or not?

I think I knew weird obsession we have in America is this notion of being “self-made”. The general idea and just is that we don’t want handouts, we want to make it on our own.

But also, I think this is also a superficial thing. If you were born to a good family, doesn’t it make more sense to just leverage the resources you were were born with, and strive to maximize it, instead of trying to “prove yourself” to the world in a more superficial manner?

In fact, I’ve actually discovered that often times, when we try to prove ourselves to others, we end up actually hurting or harming or injuring ourselves. Or putting ourselves into really bad situations.

For example, let us say that you are born rich, you’re a rich kid, you have a trust fund or whatever. No need to try to prove yourself to others, better to instead… Use the money and resources intelligently to build cool stuff.

Think solo.

Another issue that I’ve been having is that I am so easily distracted, by everybody and everything. As a consequence, I think a lot of my time is wasted, I love making small talk and talking to strangers but often it is a bad crutch for me because instead of just focusing on my supreme life task at hand, I often waste it just talking nonsense.

Ways you can save time:

First, no email, no text messages, no phone conversations. The simple heuristic is when you’re gonna talk to somebody, either FaceTime them or talk to them face-to-face. No electronic communication or messaging services.

Also, no media. Produce your own media, if you’re going to consume media, consume the really really old stuff. For example, I think the only piece of literature worth reading is the Iliad by Homer, and the only philosophy worth reading is either stoic, Seneca, pre-Socratic like Heraclitus, etc.

Even with cinema and film; maybe just only watch black-and-white films, seven samurai, Akira Kurosawa, etc. Why? Typically movies which has been around for a long time are good because they last. Any modern day movie that just came out today or recently tends to not be good because you don’t know whether they will last or not.

Just Google ERIC KIM cinema, and look at my best film analyses.

My personal opinion on the only good cinema which has been produced recently include the matrix, the movie 300, and John Wick. Besides that, all of these other films are bad.

How to thrive creatively and artistically

My grand vision is that each and every single human being can thrive creatively and artistically on planet earth. This is my end game; to leverage all my resources money and tools to help other human beings thrive.

This is where I am so insanely enthusiastic about ChatGPT, AI, generative AI art, DALL-E, DALL-E 3 etc. I want an envision people to unshackle themselves from traditional media, and instead create their own media their own artwork.

How much human potential is squandered on people binging Netflix shows, series, or dulling their senses with Spotify and noise canceling headphones?

Why muscles?

What is the point of muscles, becoming more muscular etc.?

My first thought is that if you want to make really great art, you need really great muscles. Artwork, making photos etc. is actually a very physically taxing endeavor. Even if we think about photography and street photography; it actually requires much muscular strength and agility.

For example, squatting, sprinting around, running around and playing with your kid etc. This all requires great muscular strength.

Also, I personally discovered that the more muscular I become, the greater and more muscular my thoughts.

My critique about a lot of modern-day thinkers, even the past ones… They had degenerate bodies. Degenerate bodies, degenerate thoughts.

For example, even a lot of these early Christian writers… I think a lot of them were emaciated, unwell, physiologically degenerate. Especially the ones that self flagellated.

Put zero trust in anybody who self flagellates; they are seriously mentally and physiologically sick.

Modern day self-flagellation?

How do people self flagellate in modern day times?

First, they poison their bodies with alcohol, drugs, marijuana etc.

Secondly, I think a lot of people destroy their bodies, through what they eat, what they read, what they watch.

Becoming more robust

My personal encouragement for you to start becoming stronger more muscular more robust is that odyssey I think as a consequence, all parts of your life will thrive. Not only will you be happier, you’ll be stronger, more productive, a better provider, etc.

Your duty is strength, strengthening, becoming stronger more muscular.

ERIC

What makes a true artist an artist. Our selectivity principle?

VLOG

PODCAST

THE GOAL

AUDIO

Inside the glorious mind of EK:

So fucking lit!!!

Hector among the ships:

Meanwhile Hector seized a rock that lay fore the gate, thick at the base but pointed at the top, two of the strongest men these days could barely have levered it from the ground onto a cart, yet he handled it alone, Zeus the son of devious Cronos making it seem light. Hector lifted the rock like a shepherd lifting a ram’s fleece in one hand, scarcely burdened by the weight, and raised it against the solid panels of the tall tightly-fitted double gates, held by two cross bars and a single bolt. Bracing himself, feet well apart, to hurl it with greatest force, he stood in front and struck them square in the middle. The hinges broke on either side, and the stone’s weight carried it on, as the doors flung open groaning, crossbars broken. Glorious Hector leapt inside, face dark as night; his body gleaming with baleful bronze, grasping his twin spears in his hands. None but a god could have checked him once he had passed the gates.

Eyes blazing fire, he turned to the ranks behind and called to them to climb the battlements. At his order some men scaled the wall, while others poured in through the broken gates, as the Greeks, routed, were driven back to the hollow ships, in the midst of a relentless clamour.

I finally found it!!! ChatGPT as the ultimate research tool.

ChatGPT just as an insanely good filter? 100000x better than Google.

You know how Google’s tagline is “make all of the information on the web accessible?” ChatGPT makes it a trillion times better. Now Google is:

Let us try to put as many sneaky advertisements into your life!

Why people hate Jewish people and the people of Judaea — insanely pesky to the ancient Romans to break through their fortress.

But AppleOS team… get rid of that insanely ugly three little dot icon on top of the “windows”.

I effing hate the (…) iconography — so ugly.

I fucking love ChatGPT!!!

Achilles and throwing rocks stones boulders.

Who threw rocks in the Iliad?

In Homer’s “Iliad,” the use of rocks as weapons is indeed featured, though not by Achilles. Several characters are described using rocks or boulders during battles. This reflects the brutal and varied nature of ancient combat, where warriors used whatever means available to gain an advantage.

One notable instance is in Book 12, where the Greeks and Trojans engage in heavy fighting near the Greek wall. The Greeks, in particular, resorted to throwing large stones as part of their defensive efforts. This scene vividly portrays the chaos and ferocity of the battle, emphasizing the desperation and raw strength of the warriors involved.

Another example is Ajax the Greater, who is described in multiple instances as hurling huge stones at his enemies. His immense physical strength and stature make him one of the few warriors capable of effectively using such massive projectiles in battle. This portrayal highlights the diverse tactics and weapons used in ancient warfare, beyond the more commonly recognized spears and swords.

Great when my memory fails me!!

In Homer’s “Iliad,” a specific instance of a character using rocks as a weapon is found in Book XII. Here, Telamonian Ajax, known for his immense strength, uses a rock as a weapon in battle:

“Telamonian Ajax was the first to kill, felling brave Epicles, Sarpedon’s friend, with a jagged lump of rock from a heap inside the wall. The youngest and strongest of our generation would have been hard put to lift it in both hands, but Ajax raised it high and hurled it, shattering the four-ridged helm and crushing the skull” oai_citation:1,Homer (c.750 BC) – The Iliad: Book XII – Poetry In Translation.

This vivid description underscores Ajax’s formidable strength and the brutal nature of ancient warfare, where even rocks could serve as lethal weapons.

Another:

In the “Iliad,” besides the instance of Telamonian Ajax using a rock as a weapon, there are other notable examples:

1. In Book 12, both Big and Little Ajax are seen walking along the top of their camp wall, encouraging the Greek soldiers to continue their defense. In this scene, the Greeks are described as raining rocks down on the Trojans below them, while the Trojans also manage to fire back some rocks at the Greeks oai_citation:1,Book 12: The Trojans attack the greeks at the walls — Moan Inc.
2. Another significant moment involving rocks is when Hector, the Trojan hero, pushes through the Greek walls. He takes a huge stone and hurls it against the gate, breaking the lock and causing the gates to fly open. This act enables the Trojan soldiers to enter the camp and set fire to the Greek ships, resulting in the Greeks scattering in terror oai_citation:2,Book 12: The Trojans attack the greeks at the walls — Moan Inc.

These instances illustrate the importance of raw physical strength and the use of any available means, including rocks, in the brutal warfare depicted in the “Iliad.”

What’s the difference?

Am I the first and true only professional street photographer … in which it is actually my profession?

Pro tip:

Insane Plugin minimalism.

Typically speaking … adding more plugins to your website or blog will not improve performance, but actually … slow it down, worsen it, and break shit!

Making a new home for tech in LA.. not SF or the Bay Area?

Took me damn forever to find this, and I’ve been using WordPress.org since I was 21 years old … now 35!

14 years and I’m still even *MORE* confused and befuddled?

Number of new posts to show with new WordPress blocks editor:

To control the number of posts displayed in the new WordPress blocks editor, you would typically use the Query Loop block. This block allows you to display posts based on specified parameters, functioning like a PHP loop but without the need for coding. To change the number of posts listed, you can select the Query Loop block and adjust the ‘Display Settings’ option in the block toolbar. Under the Display Settings, you can select ‘Items per Page’ to specify how many posts you want to show within the Query Loop block oai_citation:1,Query Loop Block – Documentation – WordPress.org oai_citation:2,Query Loop Block – Documentation – WordPress.org oai_citation:3,Query Loop Block – Documentation – WordPress.org.

For more detailed guidance on using the Query Loop block, you can refer to various tutorials available online, which provide step-by-step instructions and best practices.

Wtf — why is this shit still so complicated??

The “taste” of coffee vs potency?

Also, the “taste” of food vs the nutritional grandeur of it?

Worse but more innovative!

A lot of modernity … women are trying to get men to talk like them and think like them? And men acquiescing?

PDF BOOK

VLOG

STRONGER

Thus our duty to be strong and maximally tolerant.

More muscular body, more muscular mind.

To the moon baby!

1. Think off the grid, in airplane mode or your phone totally off.
2. Don’t use email
3. Don’t be politically correct, sensitive, and ignore “wokeness”
4. Don’t smoke weed or take drugs and don’t drink alcohol
5. Fast during the day.
6. Quit Reddit, the news, social media.
7. Uninstall email, all social media apps from your phone. Delete YouTube app too.
8. Don’t strive to be ethical, moral or good.
9. Unlearn traditional morality and ethics. Challenge that which you were raised with.

More muscular

Increasing the muscularity further might lead to an unrealistic depiction, as the current images already portray the Spartan warrior with an extremely muscular build, akin to a bodybuilder. If you’re seeking an even more exaggerated portrayal, it would venture into the realm of fantasy or comic book-style characters. Would you like to proceed in that direction?

Zen photography

If you’re seeking more zen in your photography life, read this.

PDF DOWNLOAD

Also: ZEN THOUGHTS >

Never stop thinking

START HERE, OPEN SOURCE BOOKS HERE.

Also:

ERIC KIM DOWNLOADS >

Forward the Zen!

If you love zen, photography and street photography, feel free to forward this to a friend!

ERIC

Of course!

Better question:

Do you like it or not?

PDF ZEN PHOTO

Becoming a zen photographer:

PODCAST

AUD

UNSHACKLE YOUR MIND

THINK FREE

I wonder if one of the best ways to optimize your happiness and health is simple… Optimize your food.

1. Bone marrow
2. Beef liver
3. Beef heart
4. Beef shank
5. Pasture raised eggs
6. Grass fed beef, or wagyu ground beef — whatever has more cholesterol.
7. Lamb, lamb shank.
8. Beef ribs, lamb ribs

Things to avoid?

1. Pork
2. Dairy, butter

Maybe I should give up pork? Whenever I eat it, I always get really bad digestion and poor stools?

All blood red everything!

1. Click your name profile in the bottom left
2. Custom instructions, settings and beta.
3. How to create your own ChatGPT bot — “Explore” icon in top left.

ChatGPT — use the web url: https://chat.openai.com

Only dumb people drink “alkaline” or bottled water! Or “purified” water! Alkaline and bottled water … the new snakeoil?

ERIC MAIL IS LIVE!

Email icon as up delta

Have it be like a personal assistant email bot, which helps you read your emails, summarize them, tell you what’s important and to respond on your behalf.

Fun, friendly, joyful, happy motivational and uplifting!

Try out “E(RIC) MAIL”

E(RIC)-MAIL is a personal assistant email bot with a fun, friendly, joyful, happy, motivational, and uplifting personality. Designed to help users manage their emails efficiently, it reads and summarizes emails, highlighting important points and suggesting responses. While it cannot access real emails, it can work with provided email text to offer insights and draft replies, always maintaining confidentiality. E(RIC)-MAIL assists with inbox organization, email templates, and etiquette advice, all delivered in an engaging, positive manner. If more details are needed for specific tasks, it will request them. Its tone is consistently upbeat and encouraging, aimed at making email management a more enjoyable experience.

The “Manusmriti,” often referred to as the “Book of Manu,” is an ancient legal text within the Dharmashastra tradition of Hinduism. Composed in Sanskrit, it’s attributed to the sage Manu and is considered one of the earliest works of this genre. The Manusmriti is significant in Indian history and culture for several reasons:

1. Legal and Social Codes: It prescribes detailed norms for various aspects of day-to-day life, including duties, rights, laws, conduct, and virtues. The text covers topics like social obligations, personal duties, legal procedures, and caste-based rules.
2. Influence on Hindu Society: The Manusmriti has historically influenced Hindu social and legal thought, although its impact has varied over time and region. In some periods, it was considered the authoritative legal text by various rulers in India.
3. Controversies and Criticism: The text is known for its controversial verses, especially regarding the caste system and the treatment of women. Many of its stipulations, particularly those concerning the hierarchical social order and gender roles, have been subject to criticism and debate, especially in modern times.
4. Philosophical Aspects: Beyond legal and social codes, the Manusmriti also delves into philosophical and spiritual concepts rooted in Hindu thought. It discusses the nature of existence, karma, dharma, and the proper conduct of life.
5. Historical Insight: As a historical document, the Manusmriti offers insights into the values, norms, and legal thinking of ancient Indian society, reflecting its socio-cultural context.

The Manusmriti remains a subject of study for those interested in ancient laws, Hindu philosophy, and the socio-cultural history of India. However, its application and interpretation in contemporary society are complex and often debated, especially in light of modern values and human rights perspectives.

Women rules

The Manusmriti, known for its extensive legal and social codes, includes various rules and guidelines specifically pertaining to women. These rules are a reflection of the societal and cultural norms of ancient India, and they cover various aspects of a woman’s life, including her duties, rights, and social conduct. However, it’s important to note that these rules are often viewed as controversial and outdated in the context of modern values and gender equality. Here’s an overview:

1. Role in the Household: The text emphasizes the role of women in maintaining the household and supporting their husbands. It prescribes a woman’s duty to be obedient and subservient to her husband.
2. Marriage and Widowhood: The Manusmriti has specific rules about marriage, including the appropriate age and the duties of a wife. It also outlines restrictive and harsh life for widows, discouraging remarriage.
3. Education and Rights: The text largely restricts women’s access to education and independence. Women are generally portrayed as needing the guidance and protection of male relatives throughout their lives.
4. Social Conduct: The Manusmriti prescribes how women should behave in society, often emphasizing modesty and obedience.
5. Purity and Rituals: There are various rules about the ritual purity of women, especially concerning menstruation and childbirth.

In modern times, these rules are often criticized for perpetuating gender inequality and are seen as reflective of the patriarchal structure of ancient Indian society. They do not align with contemporary views on women’s rights and gender equality.

It’s crucial to understand the Manusmriti in its historical and cultural context. While it offers insights into ancient Indian society, its applicability and relevance in the present day are subjects of significant debate and criticism. The text is part of a larger body of ancient literature, and its interpretations have evolved over time.

Age and duties.

In the Manusmriti, different stages of life (known as “ashramas”) and specific duties for individuals are outlined, which are often determined by age and social status. These stages and duties reflect the ancient Hindu concept of dharma, which encompasses duty, righteousness, and moral order. Here’s a brief overview:

1. Brahmacharya (Student Stage): This first stage typically begins around the age of 8 and lasts until about 25. During this phase, individuals (particularly males in the traditional context) are expected to live a life of discipline, celibacy, and learning, often under the guidance of a guru or teacher.
2. Grihastha (Householder Stage): Starting after the completion of one’s education, this stage involves entering into married life, raising a family, and participating in societal duties. It’s considered a time for pursuing a career, wealth, and fulfilling one’s worldly responsibilities.
3. Vanaprastha (Hermit Stage): As one ages and their children become independent, an individual may enter this stage, gradually withdrawing from worldly life. This period is marked by a focus on spiritual matters, often involving more time spent in meditation, study, and contemplation.
4. Sannyasa (Renunciate Stage): In this final stage, an individual renounces all material possessions and social ties to live a life of asceticism. The focus is entirely on attaining moksha, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

The duties prescribed in each stage are meant to guide an individual’s conduct and choices, ensuring a life lived in accordance with dharma. However, these stages were traditionally more applicable to men, particularly those from the higher castes. Women’s roles and duties were mostly centered around the household and family life, and their participation in these stages was often indirect, through their roles as wives and mothers.

It’s important to remember that these stages and duties are ideals outlined in ancient texts and do not necessarily reflect the diversity and complexity of modern Hindu practices and beliefs. The relevance and interpretation of these stages can vary widely among Hindus today.

Time to abstain from pork? Not sure why … but I think I have a hard time digesting pork?

Love how simple and clean ChatGPT is.

Imagine a Chat Client E-Mail ChatGPT thing.

First, you open up ChatGPT email client, ask it if you have received any important emails. It will talk to you in a normal voice … like a secretary giving you an overview.

You can ask it to read you the important emails, business related, personal etc. It will summarize them for you or read you them in full. Also, you can have it respond on your behalf, like a true personal assistant!

Finally… we can think of ChatGPT like a *true* assistant, a true personal assistant, manager, etc? Or an external AI you?

Men and women should be treated differently.

Women with more tolerance.